GEARS

Seema Saiba

Abstract- This article outlines a Gear and its different II. AXIS
types of gear and parts of a gear. It also describes the
methodology of calculating the Gear Ratios viz. pitch The axis of revolution of the gear, where the shaft
diameter, teeth. passes through. Please refer figure (a)
Keywords- Gear, Gear Ratio, pressure angle, pitch
circle, pitch diameter, spur gear, helical gear, bevel
gear, worm gear, planetary gear, spiral bevel gear .

I. INTRODUCTION
A Gear is a rotating circular machine part having
cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel,
inserted teeth called cog, which mesh with another
compatible toothed part to transmit torque and
speed. The basis principle behind the operations of
gears is analogous to the basic principle of levers.
A gear may also be known as a cog. Geared devices
can change the speed, torque, and direction of
power source. Gears of different sizes produce a
change in torque, creating a mechanical advantage,
through their gear ratio and thus may be considered
a simple machine.
The Gear Ratio of a system is the ratio between the
rotational speed of the input shaft to the rotational
speed of the output shaft.
Gear is used as:
 Change the output speed of shaft.
 transmit rotation from one axis to
another.
Parts of a Gear includes:
 Axis.
 Pitch Circle.
 Teeth.
 Pressure Angle.
 Diametral Pitch.
 Circular Pitch
 Pitch Diameter Figure (a): Different Parts of Gear (source:
chegg.com)
III. DIAMETERAL PITCH IX. TYPES OF GEARS
The ratio of the number of teeth to the pitch diameter.
Two gears must have the same diametral pitch to  Spur Gear.
mesh.  Helical Gear.
 Bevel Gear.
 Worm Gear.
 Rack and Pinion Gear.
IV. PITCH CIRCLE  Planetary Gear.
The circle that defines the "size" of the gear. The pitch  Internal Gear.
circles of two meshing gears need to be tangent for  Hypoid Gear.
them to mesh. If the two gears were instead of two  Crown Gear.
discs that were driven by friction, the perimeter of  Spiral Bevel Gear.
those discs would be the pitch circle.
i. SPUR GEAR

Spur gears are a cylindrical shaped toothed component

V. PRESSURE ANGLE used in industrial equipment to transfer mechanical
motion as well as control speed, power, and torque.
These simple gears are cost-effective, durable, reliable
The pressure angle of a gear is the angle between the and provide a positive, constant speed drive to facilitate
lines defining the radius of the pitch circle to the point daily industrial operations.
where the pitch circle intersects a tooth, and the
tangent line to that tooth at that point. Standard Used in mechanical clocks, speed reducers, and printing
presses.
pressure angles are 14.5, 20, and 25 degrees. The
pressure angle affects how the gears contact each
other, and thus how the force is distributed along the
tooth. Two gears must have the same pressure angle to
mesh.

VI. TEETH

The jagged faces projecting outward from the

circumference of the gear, used to transmit rotation to
other gears. The number of teeth on a gear must be an
integer. Gears will only transmit rotation if their teeth
mesh and have the same profile.
Figure (b): Terminologies of Spur Gear
(source: chegg.com)
VII. CIRCULAR PITCH

The distance from a point on one tooth to the same

point on the adjacent tooth, measured along the pitch ii. HELICAL GEAR
circle. (So that the length is the length of the arc rather
than a line). Helical gears are one type of cylindrical gears with
slanted tooth trace. Compared to spur gears, they have a
larger contact ratio and excel in quietness and less
VIII. PITCH DIAMETER vibration and can transmit large force. A pair of helical
gears has the same helix angle, but the helix hand is
opposite.
The pitch diameter refers to the working diameter of
the gear, a.k.a., the diameter of the pitch circle. You Used in automobiles, machine tools, and marine
can use the pitch diameter to calculate how far away equipment.
two gears should be: the sum of the two pitch
diameters divided by 2 is equal to the distance
between the two axes.
 v. RACK AND PINION GEAR

A rack and pinion are a type of linear actuator that

comprises a circular gear (the pinion) engaging a linear
gear (the rack). Together, they convert rotational
motion into linear motion. Rotating the pinion causes
the rack to be driven in a line. Conversely, moving the
rack linearly will cause the pinion to rotate. A rack and
pinion drive can use both straight and helical gears.
Figure (c): Terminologies of Helical Gear
(source: chegg.com)

iii. BEVEL GEAR

Bevel gears are gears where the axes of the two shafts intersect
and the tooth -bearing faces of the gears themselves are
conically shaped. Bevel gears are most often mounted on shafts
that are 90 degrees apart but can be designed to work at other
angles as well.
Figure (f): Terminologies of Rack and Pinion
Used in power plants, mining equipment, and marine Gear (source: moogparts.eu)
applications.

vi. PLANETARY GEAR

A planetary gear is a type of gear system comprised of

spur gears. In planetary gearing (also known as
epicyclic gearing), a center gear, called a sun gear,
serves as the input and driver of the set. Three or more
“driven” gears (referred to as planets) rotate around the
sun gear. Finally, the planets engage with a ring gear
from the inside, which makes an internal spur gear
design. Because the planet gears are evenly distributed
Figure (d): Terminologies of Bevel Gear around the sun, planetary gear trains are known to be
(source: researchgate.net) extremely rugged designs. Another benefit of a
planetary gearset is that it is easy to convert to a
different ratio by simply changing out the carrier and
iv. WORM GEAR sun gears.

A worm gear is a gear consisting of a shaft with a spiral thread Used in robotics, construction equipment, and wind
that engages with and drives a toothed wheel. Worm gears are turbines.
an old style of gear, and a version of one of the six simple
machines. Basically, a worm gear is a screw butted up against
what looks like a standard spur gear with slightly angled and
curved teeth.

Used in conveyors, elevators, and packaging equipment.

Figure (g): Terminologies of Planetary Gear

Figure (e): Terminologies of Worm Gear
(source: lancereal.com)
(source: functionbay.com)
vii. INTERNAL GEAR ix. CROWN GEAR

Internal Gears are gear teeth generated in the A crown gear (also known as a face gear or a
internal diameter of a cylinder while external contrate gear) is a gear which has teeth that project
gears have gear teeth generated on the outside at right angles to the face of the wheel. In particular,
diameter of the component. While there are a crown gear is a type of bevel gear where the pitch
several different types of gears, only two can be cone angle is 90 degrees.
produced as both internal and external gears, spur, Used in textile machinery, paper mills, and
and helical gears. heavy-duty industrial applications.
Used in planetary gear systems and hydraulic
motors.

Figure (h): Terminologies of Internal Gear Figure (j): Terminologies of Crown Gear
(source: shutterstock.com) (source: gearmotions.com)

viii. HYPOID GEAR x. SPIRAL BEVEL GEAR

A spiral bevel gear is a bevel gear with helical teeth.
A hypoid gear is a style of spiral bevel gear whose The main application of this is in a vehicle differential,
main variance is that the mating gears' axes do not where the direction of drive from the drive shaft must
intersect. The hypoid gear is offset from the gear be turned 90 degrees to drive the wheels. The helical
center, allowing unique configurations and a large design produces less vibration and noise than
diameter shaft. The teeth on a hypoid gear are helical, conventional straight-cut or spur-cut gear with straight
and the pitch surface is best described as a teeth.
hyperboloid. A hypoid gear can be considered a cross
between a bevel gear and a worm drive.
Used in aircraft, helicopters, and high-performance
Used in rear-wheel-drive automotive differentials and vehicles.
heavy machinery.

Figure (i): Terminologies of Hypoid Gear Figure (k): Terminologies of Spiral Bevel Gear
(source: researchgate.net) (source: researchgate.net)
X. ADVANTAGES OF GEARS XIV. REFRENCES

 Gears can transmit power and torque  Standard Handbook of Machine Design, 3rd
efficiently with minimal losses. Edition, Joseph E, Charles R. Mischke,
 Gears can change the speed and direction Thomas Hunter Brown,
of rotation between two or more https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/
components in a mechanical system. content/book/9780071441643/chapter/chap
 Gears can be used to amplify or reduce the ter11
torque and speed of rotation.
 Gears can be designed to be self-locking,
preventing reverse motion and providing  Marple Gears Inc.
safety. https://www.marplesgears.com/2019/11/int
 Gears can be designed with different ernal-gears/
materials and coatings to resist wear and
corrosion.  https://www.lancereal.com/planetary-gears-
 Gears can be used in a wide range of principles-of-operation/
mechanical systems, from small devices to
heavy-duty industrial applications.
 Gears can be manufactured to precise  Aaron Black, Practicing Oil Analysis,
tolerances, allowing for smooth and https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Rea
accurate operation. d/1080/worm-gears
 Gears can be designed to reduce noise and
vibration in mechanical systems.

XI. DISADVANTAGES OF GEARS

 They are not suitable for large velocities.

 They are not suitable for transmitting
motion over a large distance.
 They have no flexibility.
 Gear operation is noisy.
 Due to the engagement of toothed wheel
of gears, some part of machine may get
permanently damaged in case of excessive
loading.
XII. CONCLUSION

Gears are mechanical devices that transmit rotation and

power from one shaft to another if they both possess
appropriately shaped projections (teeth). These gears are
equally spaced around their circumference and the tooth
goes into the space between the teeth of the other shaft. In
this case, a gear is a machine component in which a rotary
power is transmitted by the prime mover’s tooth surface
pushing the tooth surface of the driven shaft.

XIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I (Seema Saiba) acknowledge Prof. I. N. Sinha for

allowing us to prepare a term paper on “Gears” and his
guidance for the same.
I also acknowledge all others who supported us during this
time.